Table 1 The main and interactive effects of herbivory and plant life form on soil chemical properties [pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), total carbon (TC) and available phosphorus (available P)]

Exclosure

 Full

6.01 (± 2.54)^a

1.52 (0.122)^b

0.07 (± 0.0136)^a

1.13 (± 0.0136)^a

12.9 (± 3.529)^ab

 Partial

5.77 (± 1.97)^b

1.76 (0.147)^a

0.09 (± 0.0136)^a

1.25 (± 0.0136)^a

8.8 (± 3.645)^b

 Open

5.76 (± 2.09)^b

1.69 (0.143)^a

0.05 (± 0.041)^a

0.96 (± 0.014)^a

16.9 (3.529)^a

Veg. type

 Tree

6.07 (± 2.82)^a

1.66 (0.107)^a

0.1 (± 0.0117)^a

1.40 (± 0.0117)^a

14.3 (± 3.0377)^a

 Grass

5.71 (± 2.05)^b

1.64 (0.102)^a

0.04 (± 0.0107)^b

0.83 (± 0.0107)^b

10.9 (± 2.592)^a

Main effect

p-values

 Exclosure

0.0351^*

0.046^*

0.0688 ^ns

0.1686 ^ns

0.03701^**

 Veg. type

0.0211^*

0.077 ^ns

0.0001^**

0.0002^**

0.2923 ^ns

Interaction

 Exclosure x Veg. type

0.068 ^ns

0.233 ^ns

0.01^*

0.0133^*

0.7715 ^ns